In Europe or elsewhere, there are many destinations where you can go to the sun without taking a plane. These journeys by train, bus, bike or ferry will be true adventures, and will make up your fondest travel memories.
1. Lisbon, one of the most beautiful cities in the world to visit without flying
Perched on steep hills overlooking the Atlantic, Portugal's capital enjoys sunshine almost all year round. Take the opportunity to sit under a parasol on a terrace and enjoy a delicious pastel de Bélem. Afterwards, take advantage of the good weather to treat yourself to a low-carbon cruise on the Tagus estuary. Lisbon is one of Europe's slow travel capitals, and you'll soon realize why!
How to get to Lisbon without flying?
Flixbus offers a daily bus service from Hendaye. Allow 16 hours for the bus journey. You can reach this town in the French Basque country by train directly from a number of French cities, including Paris, Bordeaux, Bayonne and Toulouse.
2. Corsica, the natural destination for sunbathing without flying
Corsica will enchant you with its pretty towns and lilting accents: Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Propriano, Prort-Vecchio, Bastia or Calvi... But far from the cities, Corsica has another, wilder beauty, which can be admired along the GR20, considered one of the most beautiful hikes in Corsica. Thanks to its many trails and natural areas, Corsica is a superb ecological destination.
How do I get to Corsica without flying?
Several companies offer ferry services between the mainland and Corsica. Corsica Ferries offers connections from Nice and Toulon to Porto-Vecchio, Ajaccio, Bastia and Île Rousse. Corsica Linea, meanwhile, offers connections to the same Corsican towns, but this time from the port of Marseille. Allow around 12 hours for the crossing.
3. Rome, culture and gastronomy under the Italian sun
All roads lead to Rome, even when it comes to knowing where to go in the sun without a plane. The Italian capital awaits you for a sustainable, cultural and gastronomic journey. Everywhere, temples, churches, theaters, museums and palaces rival each other in beauty, like the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel. See also our dedicated article "How to visit Rome in 3 days? Itinerary tips" !
How do I get to Rome without flying?
Direct Italian trains, operated by TrenItalia, leave Milan every day and reach Rome in 3 h 15. Getting to Milan couldn't be easier: there are 10 departures a day from Paris. This direct train takes you to Milan in 8 hours. You can also make exactly the same journey by Flixbus bus, which takes a total of 23 h.
4. Tunis, Africa without planes
Tunisia's capital is lively and bustling. Don't miss the medina, the historic heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its mosques, souks, palaces and mausoleums. Tunis is a destination far removed from mass tourism that's sure to enchant. It's also well connected to Tunisia's other tourist destinations.
How do I get to Tunis without a plane?
The Corsica Linea ferry service operates year-round from Marseille. Allow 22 hours for the crossing.
5. The Canaries, unique landscapes
With its vast expanses, cycling and hiking trails and abundant plant life, the Canaries are the perfect place for an eco-responsible trip ! You'll discover lunar landscapes: dramatic coves, black sand beaches, towns with colonial architecture, endemic trees..
How to get to the Canaries without a plane?
Navieras Armas and Trasmediterranea operate daily services between the Canaries and the mainland. From Huelva or Cadiz, allow around 30 hours.
6. Provence, a French region where you can soak up the sun without flying
You don't have to go far to find a place to sunbathe without flying! Take a trip to Aix-en-Provencewith its private mansions, fountains and Mont Sainte-Victoire, Marseille with its "quartier du panier", the Vieux-Port and its "bonne-mère", or Valensole with its famous lavender fields. Its natural landscapes and rich ecosystems make it one of France's best ecological destinations.
How do I get to Provence without flying?
The Aix-en-Provence TGV and Marseille stations are well connected from all over France. To Marseille, allow 3 h 20 from Paris, 6 h from Bordeaux, 2 h from Lyon and 2 h 30 from Nice, to name but a few.
7. Barcelona, just a few hours away
Just a few hours and you'll be sipping a glass of vermouth (a Catalan tradition) on Barcelona's harbor. Of course, don't miss out on some of Barcelona's must-sees, such as the Ramblas, Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell. At the end of the day, when the air is still warm, join the Spaniards for a plate of tapas, while the evening is already well underway. Discover our dedicated article "What to do in Barcelona in 3 days? Itinerary tips"!
How do I get to Barcelona without flying?
There are direct trains to Barcelona from many French cities. You'll need just 6 h 45 to reach Barcelona from Paris, thanks to one of the three daily departures. There are other departures, for example from Valence, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan and Lyon.
Another option for sports enthusiasts is to cycle to Barcelona. Thanks to EuroVélo 8, you can pedal to Catalonia from French cities such as Nice or Montpellier, and enjoy a superb cycling trip.
8. Istanbul, or crossing Europe by train
It's possible to get out of Europe and reduce your ecological footprint while traveling! Geographically and culturally, Istanbul is at the crossroads of many worlds. It lies on the banks of the Bosphorus, the canal that forms the border between Asia and Europe. The emblematic Sainte-Sophie mosque, once a church, is a perfect illustration of this. Stamboulians will welcome you with open arms to sample their dishes of juicy meats, stuffed grape leaves and kebabs.
How to get to Istanbul without a plane?
You'll need to make a long, beautiful journey across Europe to get to Istanbul. First, take an overnight train from Paris or Strasbourg to Vienna. Have breakfast in one of Vienna's famous cafés. From Vienna, take another sleeper train to Bucharest, and discover Romanian culture, as well as the Palace of Parliament, one of the largest buildings in the world. Finally, in Bucharest, as tickets cannot be booked online, buy a ticket for the night train to Istanbul at the station.
9. Majorca, one of the most beautiful islands on which to travel in the sun without taking a plane
If you're looking for a place to travel in the sun without flying in all seasons, Majorca is the place for you. With 300 days of sunshine a year, and temperatures rarely below 10°C even in winter, the Spanish island is always pleasant. Majorca, Spain's largest island, boasts highly urbanized seaside resorts, but also magnificent landscapes carpeted with thick Mediterranean vegetation, making it a pleasantly ecological destination.
How do I get to Majorca without flying?
Corsica Ferries offers up to three crossings a week from Toulon. The crossing takes around 13 hours. You'll arrive in Majorca the next morning.
10. Corfu, Greece without a plane
At the northernmost tip of the Ionian Sea, Corfu is one of Greece's largest islands. Unlike many others, it has managed to retain a great deal of authenticity, and its landscapes are in places very unspoilt. But beyond its wilderness, Corfu is also famous for its towns and villages, guardians of the rich history of this coveted territory, which is part Greek, part Venetian, part Turkish, part Albanian and part British.
How do I get to Corfu without flying?
Anek Lines offers crossings between Venice and Corfu. To reach Venice, simply take the train. Depending on your destination in France, you'll need to make a single change in either Stuttgart or Milan.
11. Croatia, the pleasures of the Adriatic
With its many historic Unesco World Heritage cities, such as Split, Dubrovnik and Zadar, Croatia has nothing to envy Italy on the other side of the Adriatic. It's a destination where you can soak up the sun without having to take a plane, and enjoy architecture that goes back thousands of years, a rich Mediterranean cuisine, and some of the most beautiful coves and beaches in Europe.
How do I get to Croatia without flying?
Two different overnight trains take you to Zagreb, one from Zurich, Switzerland, and the other from Stuttgart, Germany. Both are linked to Paris, and other French cities such as Strasbourg, by direct trains. Once in Zagreb, the Croatian capital is well connected to the public transport network, and you can easily reach any other Croatian city.
